title: Carotid body detection on CT angiography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Advances in multidetector CT provide exquisite detail with improved delineation of the normal anatomic structures in the head and neck. The carotid body is 1 structure that is now routinely depicted with this new imaging technique. An understanding of the size range of the normal carotid body will allow the radiologist to distinguish patients with prominent normal carotid bodies from those who have a small carotid body paraganglioma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We performed a retrospective analysis of 180 CTAs to assess the imaging appearance of the normal carotid body in its expected anatomic location.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The carotid body was detected in >80% of carotid bifurcations. The normal size range measured from 1.1 to 3.9 mm ± 2 SDs, which is consistent with the reported values from anatomic dissections.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  An ovoid avidly enhancing structure at the inferomedial aspect of the carotid bifurcation within the above range should be considered a normal carotid body. When the carotid body measures >6 mm, a small carotid body paraganglioma should be suspected and further evaluated.
authors.affiliation: Departments of Radiology, University of Utah Health Sciences Center, Salt Lake City, USA.
authors.forename: R P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Nguyen
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Quigley
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Harnsberger
authors.forename: R H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Wiggins
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000792:Angiography / Q000379:methods*; D002344:Carotid Body / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed / Q000379:methods*; D055815:Young Adult